Stop and synchronized drive mechanism



Nov. 18, 1947. c, STUART 2,430,964

STOP AND SYNCHRONIZED DRIVE MECHANISM v I Filed Nov. 18,1944

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j INVENTOR. 0/4615)" u. JIM/W ATTORNE Patented Nov. 18, 1947 STOP AND SYNCHRONIZED DR MECHANISM Charles J. Stuart, Winchester, Mass, assignor to Wellman Company, Medford, Mass, a corporation of Maine Application November 18, 1944, Serial No. 564,109

Claims. (CI. 12-25) This invention relates to a machine for cutting a form, such as a shoe sole, from a piece of sheet stock while the stock is clamped with a predetermined pressure between a movable table and an abutment. The invention relates particularly to an improved mechanism for synchronizing the clamping and the cutting operations and maintaining such synchronism to reproduce the last setclamping pressure after being adjusted for any one of several stock thicknesses.

This invention is an improvement upon a machine disclosed in my prior U. S. Patent No. 2,284,308, issued May 26, 1942. In the prior machine the table was operated by a piston having a rod attached thereto and extending through the cylinder head. A mechanism for synchronizing the clamping and cutting operations was connected to the rod and a fluid pressure motor was interposed in such mechanism for actuating a clutch to connect the stock cutter to a power drive when a predetermined clamping pressure was exerted on the stock between the table and the abutment. In this prior machine, the friction of the packing around the rod on the cylinder head increased the operating pressure in the cylinder and the lack of a positive mechanical connection between the piston and the clutch, resulting from the use of the fluid pressure motor, reduced the accuracy of the synchronized action of the clamping and cutting operations.

In the present machine the synchronizing mechanism comprises a positive mechanical linkage connected to the table and it does not pass through the cylinder head. The construction eliminates the rod packing in the cylinder head and lowers the previously required pressure in the cylinder. The positive mechanical linkage increases the accuracy'of the synchronization of the operations. One of the links is adjustable to arrest the table the required distance from the abutment to produce a clamping pressure on a sheet stock of any one of several different thicknesses sufiicient to prevent it from slipping during the cutting operation, and simultaneously maintain the synchronization of the clamping and cutting operations to reproduce the last set clamping'pressure at the beginning of the cutting operation on stocks having a thickness for which thelast adjustment was made. A ratchet mechanism is provided for maintaining the adjusted position of the adjustment of the link, and means is also'connected to the table to limit its movement away from the abutment and to prevent the table from rotating.

The advantages and objects of this invention will be more clearly understood by referring to the following description and the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a sole cutting machine embodying this invention, and showing parts of the frame broken away;

Fig. 2 is an enlargedfront elevational view of a section of the machine, taken between and looking in the direction of the arrows 2-2 in Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a partial cross-sectional View of the adjustable stop and synchronizing link in the operating linkage taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

As shown in Fig. 1, the sole stock I 0 is supported upon a movable table I l which is operated towards and away from an abutment l2 by means of a piston l3 cooperating with a cylinder M. The piston is controlled by fluid pressure which may be admitted and exhausted through a pipe l5. The piston is moved towards the abutment l2 by the admission of fluid pressure and it is moved away from the abutment by the weight of the table and piston when the pressure is exhausted. Any suitable control valve may be provided in the pipe line [5 for thus controlling the fluid under pressure from any suitable source. When the piston l3 moves towards the abutment l2 the stock I0 is clamped between the table H and the abutment with a predetermined pressure which is automatically controlled by an adjustable stop l6 which strikes the bottom of the cylinder I4 and arrests the table a predetermined distance from the abutment l2. which is determined by the setting of the stop I6, which in turn is set in accordance with the thickness of the stock l0. clamping pressure is attained, a cutting knife I! begins to operate upon the stock I 0 to cut the soles therefrom.

The knife I! is driven through a drive I8, which is connected and disconnected by a coupler, such as a clutch I9, to a source of power 2!]. The

clutch I9 is operated in synchronism with themovable stop 6 to connect the drive l8 with the source of power 20 at approximately but before the end of the movement of the movable .stop towards the bottom of the cylinder I4 which forms a fixed stop 2|, and to disconnect the drive at approximately but after the beginning of the movement of the movable stop away from the fixed stop. That is the adjustment of the stop I6 and the clutch I9 is such that the stock It] strikes the abutment I2, and after the desired Immediately after the desired clamping pressure is obtained, the knife H begins to operate and the table is stopped.

The synchronized actions of the stops I6 and 2| and the clutch I9 are controlled by a linkage 22 which is connected to the table II at one end and to the clutch I9 at the opposite end. The linkage comprises two rods 23 :(Fig. :2) whichare connected atrone end to the table II. The rods 23 extend downwardly from the table I I at opposite sides of the cylinder I4, and their other ends are connected to a bar, or cross link 24 which extends diametrically underneath the cylinder M, An adjustable link 25 in the linkage 22, comprising a screw 26, is threadedly -connected \to the bar 24. The movable sto I6 is supported I on the upper end of the screw 26 and is adapted to engage the fixed stop 2| son the bottom of the cylinder I4. A hand wheel '21 is affixed 'to the screw 26 on the opposite side of the .bar =24xfor adjusting the length of the link 25 in the linkage. A swivel connection "28 .provided at the end of the llink'25 fto connect it with a 'link '29 :forming a part of the remaining portion-o'ftheilirikage which vextends .to the clutch I9.

A turnbuckle '30 (Fig. "1-) having a lock nut3l therefor is 'interposedfbetweenthe link'29 and-a member 32 formingia lost motionc'onnection with abell crank lever33. The bll'crank lever 33"is pivoted on the frame of the machine at 34,'-'and its arm 35 is provided with a pin 38 which operates in .a slot in themember 32. The .pinLB'B is adapted .to-engage the bottom (if a slot 131 .in the memberl32 on the upward movement 'of 'the table II solasto actuate the other arm "38 tofthe lever 33. When the arm #38 is .so actuated it moves to the left andengages, or exerts pressure on'a spring on a rod T41] havinga wing .nut II for adjusting theitension of the spring '39. The rod-i is 'cjonne'ct'edto*th'e'clutch lever 42 and is moved by the arm 38 through the -action of the spring "-59 to actuate I the "clutch 1ever 4-2 which is pivoted 'on the frame at 43. 'The' 'end 44 0f the lever 42 engages the clutch =s'leeve45. The en-- gag'enrent rof "the :bottom of 1118511311311 in the member :32 With :thelipin 3:6 -causes -".the .arm =4 4 to The movedto the-right, as [viewed in Fig. 1,450 as to lcause the -.clutch 49 -to connect the :drive :-I.-8 to .the source of .;power 4.0. When @the member 32 isemoved downwardly, .the pin '36 -an .the arm 35 of the lever "53 isreleasedandlthe weight of the arm 35 causes the arm 381130 move to the right against astop 4Bfixed'to the rod 411 and'thereby releases the' clutch and disconnects the drive i's from the source -'of power fll. 7

It will thus be seen "that the engagement "of the movable stop It against the fixed stop at the bottom of f the cylinder l '4 controls the -'-upwardmovement of the table -l l. The stop lfiis provided with tfelt cushioninglm'aterial filwhich is adapted to cushion 'the impact zbetween time two stops. The position of the stop M5 n elative to the stop 12'! 'and'the .-linkage is adjusted tin :accordanee with the thickness -.of the sole material stock Ill by means of .the hand wheel -21 and simultaneously changes the length of the com nection between the bar 24 and "the link 2.9 to maintain the-synchronization of the cutting and clamping operations. When'the stop I6 engages the stopf2l -the screw26tends to'be turned downwardly by thepressure betweenthetwomembers. A ratchet 4 8 is provided to oppose such turning movement. 'The ratchet -comprises "an arm 4% which is pivoted with a hinge -"-joint 49 on the cross arm 24 and swings downwardly in to engagem'ent iwithiteeth 50, shown iinZFig-S, on the wheel .21. When the :hand wheel 22:1 :is turned abutment counter-clockwise, or to the right, as viewed in Fig. 3, the stop I6 is moved upwardly. When the movement of the hand wheel 21 is reversed by the operator or by the pressure of the stop I6 against the stop 2 I, the swinging arm 49 engages one of the teeth 56 and prevents it from turning, but the arm 4?! may be :swung upwardly by the operator to disengage .it irom the teeth 50 to permit manual adjustment of the stop I6.

The table I I is provided with a mechanism for limiting its downward movement away from the '-I2. This mechanism comprises a threaded rod 5|, as shown more clearly in Fig. 2, whichissecured tothe table II. The lower end of thero'd extends into a bore 52 of the bracket 53 on zthe frame to prevent the rotation of the table II. .A stop nut 54 is threaded on the rod '51 "above thetop'ofthe bracket which forms a fixed-stop 55 for the stop nut 54. The nut 54 is turned in the desired adjusted position on the rod 5| for limiting the downward movement -of thetable 'I I, .and is.locked in place 'by the flock nut "56. vLeather cushion washers '51 are placed between the .nuts 54 .and '56 .and between the nut 54 and the fixed stop 55 to provide cushions therebetween.

"Inthe Operation .ofjthemachine .thegsheet stock II] of any selected thickness 'te'be cutis .placed onthe table [I and the stop IIBlis positioned to arrest the table after the .top .surface of the stock has made contact with the abutment I2 and when the necessary clamping .pressureehas been exertedronthe stock to preVentit-trommoving when the knife .I.'I begins to operate. This adjustment .issma'de by turning the hand wheel 2.! either -in.a counterclockwise direction as-the teeth .50 swing the arm -49 out .of their :path, or .in Va clockwise l direction as the -operator :holds the arm 49 out of the way of the -te.eth50. The clutch I9 is adjusted to connect the knife drive I18 with the power source 20 just 'before .the .stop [Bis arrested by thefixedlstop 2I. Thatadiustment is made -by first turning the wing nut 4-I to adjust the spring 39 lto the \necessarytension to hold the clutch I9 Linengagement under the pressure of the;-1ever arm-38,;and then turning the turnbuckle 30 so that the bottom of the :slot 31 willengage the 'pin'3-22to move the'clutchzsleeve 45.a sufficient distance tocause the engagement of the-clutch .I 9 withthe required-pressurebefore thestop l-fiiis arrested. Theturnbuckle 3Ilis then locked-in ;place by the thumb nut '3 I. Thereafter the .clutchoperates automatically in any rposition of the movable stop I6 in which itrmay have been adjusted to obtain the proper clamping pressure for difierent thicknessesbfthe-sole stock 40 1110 prevent it from moving under the .kriife when itlisrclamped between the-table :II and.-the:abutment I 2. The-machine-havin :been ad justed th'e forms are cut by admitting fluid pressure toithe cylinder 44 which causes the piston I'3, thetable I I, and the :movable .stop I16 to rise 111111211 the stop I6 reaches the :fixed stop :Zfl :at the bottom of the cylinder. The clutch having been :previously :set 'to be thrown into engagement just before the movable stop 46 iszarrested by th'e'fixed stop 2| the knife H begins to zo eraterjustb'efore thetable I I :is stopped, but :n'Ot :until rafterisuflh cien't "clamping z pressurehas been applied.

After the cutting cycle yhas 'beenrcompleted'ithe fluid "pressure :is released from the cylinder -14, and the table II descends by virtuebfiits own weight,-and the linkage 12 2-c0nnected thereto releases the pin 36 onthel'ever'r3t3 zandipermits 'the weight-ofthellever arm 35 t0idisengagetheclutch l9. In the downward movement of the table II, the stop nut 54 on the rod 5| engages the bracket 53 for limiting the downward movement of the table II. The stock is then placed in position for the next cut, and the operation is repeated.

While the preferred embodiment of my invention has been described herein, it will be understood that changes in details may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

. Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. In a form cutting machine, an abutment, a table movable upwardly and downwardly for supporting and positioning the stock to be cut, a cylindrical piston fixed to said table for moving said table upwardly towards said abutment to clamp said stock between said table and said abutment, a fixed member, a projection attached to said table and slidably connected to said fixed member to prevent the rotation of said table, said projection being adapted to abut against said member to limit the downward movement of said table away from said abutment, a drive for a cutter adapted to out said stock, a coupler for connecting and disconnecting said drive to a source of power, a fixed stop, a movable stop connected to said table and adapted to engage said fixed stop for arresting the upward movement of said table a predetermined distance from said abutment to limit the clamping pressure on said stock, a linkage carrying said movable stop and connecting said table and said coupler whereby said coupler is operated to connect said drive at approximately the end of the movement of said movable stop towards said fixed stop and to disconnect said drive at approximately the beginning of the movement of said movable stop away from said fixed stop, and means for adjusting said movable stop on said linkage to change the distance said table may be arrested from said abutment while maintaining the synchronized actions of said stops and said coupler.

2. In a form cutting machine, an abutment, a table movable upwardly and downwardly for supporting and positioning the stock to be cut, a cylindrical piston fixed to said table for moving said table upwardly towards said abutment to clamp said stock between said table and said abutment, a fixed member, a rod having one end attached to said table and another portion slideable in a bore in said fixed member to prevent the rotation of said table, said rod having an adjustable nut threaded thereon and adapted to be arrested by said fixed member to limit the downward movement of said table away from said abutment, means for locking said nut in its desired adjusted position, a drive for a cutter adapted to out said stock, a coupler for connecting and disconnecting said drive to a source of power, a fixed stop, a movable stop connected to said table and adapted to engage said fixed stop for arresting the upward movement of said table a predetermined distance from said abutment, a linkage carrying said movable stop and connecting said table and said coupler whereby said coupler is operated to connect said drive at approximately the end of the movement of said movable stop towards said fixed stop and to disconnect said drive at approximately the beginning of the movement of said movable stop away from said fixed stop, means for adjusting said movable stop on said linkage to change the distance said table may be arrested from said abutment and to maintain the synchronized actions 3. In a sole cutting machine, an abutment, a

table movable upwardly and downwardly for supporting and positioning the sole stock to be cut, means for moving said table upwardly towards said abutment to clamp said stock between said table and said abutment, a drive for a cutter adapted to out said stock, a coupler for conmeeting and disconnecting said drive to a source of power, a fixed stop, a movable stop connected to said table and adapted to engage said fixed stop for arresting the upward movement of saidtable a predetermined distance from said abutment, a linkage carrying said movable stop and connecting said table and said coupler whereby said coupler is operated to connect said drive at approximately the end of the movement of said movable stop towards said fixed stop and to disconnect said drive at approximately the beginning of the movement of said movable stop away from said fixed stop, means for adjusting said movable stop on said linkage to change the distance said table may be arrested from said abutment and to maintain the synchronized actions of said stops and said coupler, said adjustable means comprising a screw threaded link carrying said movable stop and threadedly connected to said linkage, means for turning said link, and a ratchet for preventing said link from being turned by the pressure of said movable stop against said fixed stop.

4. In a sole cutting machine, an abutment, a table movable upwardly and downwardly for supporting and positioning the sole stock to be cut, means for moving said table upwardly towards said abutment to clamp said stock between said table and said abutment, a drive for a cutter adapted to out said stock, a coupler for connecting and disconnecting said drive to a source of power, a fixed stop, a movable stop connected to said table and adapted to engage said fixed stop for arresting the upward movement of said table a predetermined distance from said abutment, a linkage carrying said movable stop and connecting said table and said coupler whereby said coupler is operated to connect said drive at approximately the end of the movement of said movable stop towards said fixed stop and to disconnect said drive at approximately the beginning of the movement of said movable stop away from said fixed stop, means for adjusting said movable stop on said linkage to change the distance said table may be arrested from said abutment and to maintain the synchronized actions of said stops and said coupler, said. adjustable means comprising a screw carrying said movable stop, said screw forming a link in said linkage and connected therein at one section by screw threads and at another section by a swivel connection, means for operating said screw, and a ratchet for preventing said screw from being turned by the pressure of said movable stop against said fixed stop.

5. In a form cutting machine an abutment, a table for supporting the stock from which the form is to be cut, a cylinder having a closed head, a piston in said cylinder for moving said table towards said abutment, a drive for a cutter adapted to out said stock, a coupler for connecting 7 and disconnecting said drive to a source of power, a fixed stop consisting of the closed cylinder head, a movable stop adapted to engage said fixed stop and arrest the movement of said table a predetermined distance from said abutment to limit the clamping pressure on said stock, means for actuating said coupler to connect said knife drive to a source of power when said stock is clamped, means for synchronizing the acts of clamping the stock and actuating said coupler comprising a positive mechanical linkage between said table and said coupler, said linkage comprising a cross link which is connected to said table at opposite sides of said cylinder and extends across the closed head of said cylinder, an adjustable link 15 N b REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date 1,270,319 Patten June 25, 1918 1,418,604 Patten June 6, 1922 1,645,411 McGowan Oct. 11, 1927 2,284,308 Stuart May 26, 1942 

